Free’s impact could be felt in more balanced running game

Wtih Doug Free lining up at left tackle, look for the Cowboys to start running some sweeps and pulls to the left more.

In years past, the Cowboys have been pretty much a right-handed team, partly because right tackle Marc Colombo was a better run blocker than left tackle Flozell Adams.

But with Adams gone, running to the left should be much easier. That’s because Free is a solid run blocker.

“We didn’t run any kind of toss or tackle pull to our left (last season),” Wade Phillips said. “We did it to the right because Colombo does a good job of that. But this year we have the ability to run it to the left.”

Phillips was asked for an overall assessment of Free, who started seven games at right tackle last season after injuries sidelined Colombo.

“Doug has been confident coming in, and I think he has done well,” Phillips said. “His pass protection looks strong, and he is a good run blocker. When he played right tackle last year, I thought he was one of our best run blockers. And pass protection wise, when you’re going up against the guys (DeMarcus Ware) he is going up against, I think he has done a good job. And I don’t think you can get much better than the guys he is going up against.”